riley



(No Model.)

J. A. RILEY & O. S. FREER.

EAR RING,'BRAGELET, m. No. 271,121. Patented Jan.23. 1888.

66, WMM/ N. EETERS, Fhulo-Lilhoqraphur, Washingfian. ac fl UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. RILEY AND GHARLESS. FREER OF NFYW YORK, N. Y.

EA R-RING, BRACELET, 89C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,121, dated January 23, 18 83.

Application filed April 30, 1881. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN A. RILEY and CHARLES S. FREER, both of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ear- Rings, Bracelets, and other Articles of Jewelry, which improvement is'fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to ear-rings, bracelets, and other articles ot'jewelry having a general annular form, which are composed of two or more parts joined together by a hinge or loose connection, and provided with a spring or .springs combined with said parts to hold them in an open or in a closed position, and also to ear-rings having the ear-wire connected with the body by a spring-hinge, and has more particular reference to ear-rin gs and bracelets embodying the improvements set forth in Letters Patent No. 229,276, granted to us June 29,1880.

Ear-rin gs can be constructed in accordance with this invention with the hinge either in the body of the article or between the body of thearticle and theear-wire. Otherarticlesbraceletsand t-l1elike -havethehingeorhinges, if more than one isdesired, between the parts of the body.

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, illustrate several earrings and a bracelet embodying the invention or portions thereof.

Figure 1 shows in elevation and section a two part-spring ear-ring in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a view of the same open. Figs. 3 and 4 represent in sectional elevation andtop view, repectively, an ear-ring in which the ear-wire is connected with the body of the article by a spring-hinge. Figs. 5 and 6 are views in sectional elevation of other forms of thisstyle of ear-ring, the plane of Fig. 5 being at right angles to the plane of Fig. 6, which latter is the same as Figs. 1 and 3; and Fig. 7, a similar view of an open bracelet.

The same letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures in which they occur.

The articles shown in Figs. 1,2, and 7 have the body composed of two parts, a I), connected by a hinge having a pivot-pin, 0. One part, a, is hollow and'contains the spiral spring 01. The other-part, b, which may also be hollow, when desired, has on its inner end a projection or can1-surface,e, and between this projection and the spring d is a loose ball,f. The ballfhas substantially the diameter of the hollow part a. The projection or cam-surface e, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed so that in opening or closing the point thereof passes from one side to the other of the center of the ballf. Thus in Fig.1 the point of the projection is outside the center of the ball and the pressure of the spring tends to hold the parts closed, while in Fig.2 it is inside of the center of the ball, and the spring therefore tends'to keep the article open. It is preferred that in opening the point of the projection should pass but little beyond the center of the ball, so that the spring tends to close the article, except when opened nearly or quite to the fullest extent, and thisoonstruction is shown. By properly shaping the projection or cam-surface the change could be made to take place at any required point in the act of opening; or, if desired, the projection could be so shaped thatthe spring would act always to close the article; but in that case the point of the projection must not pass beyond the center of the ball. A self-closing bracelet of this description is shown in Fig 7, the spring acting always on the inner surface of the projection e and tending to draw the parts together. By cutting away the extremity of the projection, so that when the bracelet is open the point is inside of the center of the ball, the spring will hold the parts open as well as closed.

The hinge in the bodyof thearticle is formed by a tongue, g, on the part b, fitting within a slot in the end of part a, and the pivot-pin c passing through the two parts. The tongue 9 is usually formed of a separate piece let into the end of the part b and soldered in position; but it can be made in one piece with the said part 1).

Suitable stops limit the movement of the parts a b on the hinge. The inward movement is limited by contact of the ends 5 of the part a with the inclined shoulders h at the side of the tongue 9 on the part b, and the outward movement by contact of the projection c with the inner wall of the part (6. When the article is closed there are no projections nor depressions, but the surface is continuous. In the bracelet, Fig. 7, the ends t of the part a 2 QWLEQE are cut oft, so as to avoid the exposure of sharp points when the article is open, and the shoulders h are shaped to correspond with the ends 2'. The sharp points shown in Fig. 2 are not so objectionable in an ear-ring as in a brace- -let, since they are not so liable to prick the 'part a, and the pivot-pin passes through the walls of part a and the ball k. This position of the pivot-pin is preferably as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or'asin Fig. 5; but it can be placed as shown in Fig. 6, or at various positions intermediate between the positions shown. By arranging the joint as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or as in Fig. 5, the earwire is not liable to be opened by the weight of the article should the spring become weakened or be broken, because, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the wire opens in a horizontal plane, and because, as represented in Fig. 5, although the movement in opening is in a vertical plane, thejoint is below the point ot'suspein sion and the weight ofthe article tends to retain the wire in the car.

The movement of the ear-wire is limited in opening by the contact of the projection e, or the ear-wire itself, with the connected end of the part a, and in closing by the contact of the ear-wire with the opposite end of part a. The ear-wire is preferably curved, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5,'so that the pendant of the ring lies flat or parallel with the cheek or neck of the wearer; but it can be made straight, as in Fig. 6, or of any-shape that may be required by the character of the article, or is for other reasons desirable.

In the article shown in Fig. 5 the weight of the portion to tends, when the wire is inserted in the ear, to make it tip, and by causing the wire to slide to draw it down under the lobe of the ear. To prevent this a guard, which is not liable to be drawn through the ear, and- The invention is applicable to other styles of ear-rings as well as to hoop ear-rings, such as shown. In ear-rings having the ear-wire hinged to the body of the article the wire could be fastened to a flat tongue, and this be pivoted in a slot in the end of the main body, as shown in the ear-ring and bracelet with the hinge in the body.

Having now fully described our said invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, we would observe, in conclusion, that we do not claim herein any matter shown iuFig. 6 alone, or in common with the other figures, as this forms the subject-matter of another application; but

e do claim all other new improvements herein described, to wit:

1. In a hoop earring, the combination, with the body portion or pendant, bent as explained, of the ear-wire extending, when closed, obliquely between the ends of said body portion or pendant, substantially as described.

2. In a hoop ear-ring adapted to hang vertically, and in combination with thebody or pendant thereof, an ear-wire pivoted or hinged to turn on a vertical axis, so as-to open laterally, substantially as described.

3. In an ear-ring, the combination, with the body of the ear-ring, ot' the ear-wire connected with said body by a spring-hinge, and the guard or disk fixed to the ear-wire, near the free end thereof, substantially as described.

4. The hinged parts, having the one a tlat tongue beveled or inclined on the inside, and another a slot into which said tongue projects, in combination with the inclosed spring and interposed movable device, substantially as described.

5. The hinged parts of equal cross-section, and the stops at the hinge for limiting the movement ot'said parts in both directions, in combination with the projection or cam-surface on one of said parts, the spring carried by another part, and a movable device interposed between the projection or cam-surface and the spring, said projection or cam-surface, spring, and movable device being arranged to hold the article open or closed in whichever position it may be placed, substantially as de-' scribed.

6. A hinged bracelet or other article ofjew elry of elliptical shape, having the hingeopposite the shorter axis of the ellipse, in combination with the projection or cam-surface on one of the hinged parts, the spring inclosed in another, the interposed movable device, and the stops at the hinge, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. RlLEY. CHARLES S. FREER. Witnesses:

HENRY K. THOMAE, H. N. GLOVER. 

